The Ministry of Finance has revealed that the Green Fund received a total of USD 7.3 million in March of this year.
The Green tax, which is imposed on tourists, is designed to fund environmental initiatives and is payable by resorts, guesthouses, hotels, and tourists staying at safaris.
According to reports published by the Ministry of Finance, the largest portion of the funds deposited in March, amounting to USD 6.60 million, came from resorts. Following resorts, guesthouses contributed USD 420,000, while hotels, safaris, and home-stays contributed USD 161,000, USD 155,000, and USD 902, respectively.
In terms of specific atolls, Kaafu Atoll received the highest amount of funds, totaling USD 2.33 million, followed by Alifu Dhaalu Atoll with USD 776,000, and Raa Atoll with USD 647,000.
During the same period, USD 1.23 million was allocated from the Green Fund for various environmental projects, as indicated by Ministry of Finance statistics.
Established in 2016 under the Tourism Act of the Maldives, the Green Fund aims to tackle environmental issues in the country. The fund collects USD 6 as Green Tax per tourist per day for stays in tourist guesthouses or hotels with 50 or more rooms registered, and USD 3 per tourist per day for stays in guesthouses or hotels with fewer than 50 rooms registered.